Grating

ABSTRACT

Hitherto known gratings for covering shafts, channels or similar structures comprise peripheral rails ( 10, 10′ ) cross-bars ( 20 ) that are joined to the peripheral rails ( 10, 10′ ) and consist of sheet metal sections, and longitudinal bars ( 30 ) joined to the cross-bars ( 20 ). In order to provide a better foothold and improved anti-skid properties, the longitudinal bars ( 30 ) are secured to the cross-bars ( 20 ) in such a way that top stepping surfaces ( 31 ) of the longitudinal bars ( 30 ) are lower than or flush with at least stepping portions ( 21 ) of upper edges ( 22 ) of the cross-bars ( 20 ).

The invention relates to a grating according to the preamble of claim 1.

Gratings are used for covering openings in surfaces that are to be walked on and/or driven on. A large proportion of such structures form drainage channels or shafts which are used for surface drainage. Such gratings must, on the one hand, be stable and, on the other hand, provide adequate drainage capacity. Additional significant aspects include price and weight.

Another significant aspect for gratings lying in surfaces walked on by pedestrians is slip resistance. Issues often arise particularly when, for reasons of cost and weight reduction, such gratings are made of sheet metal material.

A grating is known from DE 1 856 722 U, in which bars which cross over one another and are made of sheet metal material have edges that are formed serrated in order to thus afford greater slip resistance. The loading capacity of such gratings is limited.

Gratings are known from DE 1 659 147 A or DE 1 966 875 U, in which longitudinal bars with a U-shaped cross section are mounted by means of their shanks in slots which are located in cross-bars. The longitudinal bars project over the cross-bars. Such gratings do not provide sufficient slip resistance.

The object of the invention is to further develop a grating of the type mentioned at the outset so as to provide improved slip resistance with a simple construction.

This object is achieved by means of a grating according to claim 1.

In particular, this object is achieved by means of a grating for covering shafts, channels or similar structures, comprising peripheral rails, cross-bars made of sheet metal sections which are connected to the peripheral rails and longitudinal bars which are connected to the cross-bars. The longitudinal bars are attached to the cross-bars in such a way that upper stepping surfaces of the longitudinal bars extend lower than or flush with at least stepping sections of upper edges of the cross-bars. This very simple construction ensures that the stepping sections of the cross-bars, which are in turn made from sheet metal sections, form a non-slip surface, with the longitudinal bars in turn being able to be formed such that there is no risk of becoming caught (e.g. with narrow heels).

The longitudinal bars preferably have essentially U-shaped cross-sections, with their shanks being fixed in the cross-bars. This ensures a high level of stability while increasing the above-mentioned safety against narrow heels becoming caught.

The peripheral rails preferably have slots into which ends of the cross-bars are inserted. This permits a simple yet stable installation. In particular, the peripheral rails are formed as a sheet metal hollow profile, which saves on material and weight, but which is nevertheless very stable.

The cross-bars have slots for receiving the shanks of the longitudinal bars, with these slots being formed such that the shanks can be inserted into these slots. Here too, a high level of stability is obtained by means of simple constructive measures. The ends of the cross-bars are preferably bent inside the peripheral rails in such a way that the cross-bars are fixed to the peripheral rails. A stable fixing can thus be produced by means of a deformation only, and welding is not required.

The cross-bars preferably have stop sections situated before their ends so that the ends can be inserted into the peripheral rails up to a defined insertion depth. An exact shape and dimensioning are thus obtained.

The peripheral rails preferably have bearing surfaces for bearing on corresponding sections of the structures, and lower edges of the ends of the cross-bars are formed such that they bear on the inner surfaces of the bearing surfaces. This results in a high load stability.

The stepping sections of the cross-bars have sharp-edged engagement edges opposite rounded transition areas between the shanks and the stepping surfaces of the longitudinal bars. These engagement edges are of course not so sharp-edged that injury or damage is caused to persons (or bicycle tires), nevertheless they are “sufficiently angular” to guarantee improved slip resistance.

Brackets are preferably provided which, for the purpose of fixing the grating in the structure, are connected to the peripheral rails. This ensures a simple yet sufficiently stable installation of the grating on a structure. The brackets preferably have upper spring sections, by means of which they can be inserted under tension into openings of the peripheral rails and can be fixed in the peripheral rails, preferably in a form fitting manner. The assembly is thus very simple.

The peripheral rails additionally have rod elements projecting downwards, which are formed for insertion into corresponding recesses in the structure and for prevention of a longitudinal displacement of the grating relative to the structure. These rod elements can thus be very easily produced.

The peripheral rails have access openings on the outside such that the ends of the cross- bars can be accessed from the outside by tools for connection of the cross-bars to the peripheral rails. This simple constructive measure thus allows the gratings to be produced very easily.

An embodiment of the invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to the drawings, in which

FIG. 1 shows a perspective depiction of a grating in an oblique top view,

FIG. 2 shows the grating according to FIG. 1 in an oblique bottom view,

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the grating according to FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 4 shows a view of the grating according to FIG. 3 along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 shows a cut-out depiction of the grating according to FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein the cutting plane runs along the line V-V of FIG. 3,

FIG. 6 shows a perspective depiction of a bracket, which is used in the grating according to FIGS. 1-5, and

FIG. 7 shows a depiction similar to that of FIG. 5, wherein one of the peripheral rails and several of the longitudinal bars and cross-bars are omitted to allow a better understanding of the construction.

In the following description, similar parts and parts with similar functions are designated with the same reference numerals.

As can be seen from the figures, peripheral rails 10, 10′ are provided, which are connected to one another by means of cross-bars 20. The cross-bars 20 have ends 23, 23′, which are inserted into slots 11 of the peripheral rails 10, 10′.

The cross-bars 20 in turn have slots 24, into which shanks 32, 32′ of longitudinal bars 30 are pressed, which longitudinal bars have a U-shaped cross-section (such as an inverted U).

Between two of these longitudinal bars 30, stepping sections 21, which are sections of the upper edge 22 of each cross-bar, project over upper stepping surfaces 31 of the longitudinal bars, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 4. This ensures that the cross-bars 20 or their upper edges 22 form, together with the stepping sections 21, a grating surface which is very slip-resistant. On the other hand, the longitudinal bars 30 or their upper stepping surfaces 31 ensure that, even with very narrow heels, it is almost impossible to “break through” into the drainage openings.

The cross-bars 20 additionally have engagement edges 27 on the stepping sections 21 which each project upwards between two longitudinal bars, which engagement edges still have an anti-slip effect even when the stepping sections 21 extend essentially flush with the upper stepping surfaces 31 of the longitudinal bars 30 because the shanks 32, 32′ are rounded in their transition areas 33, 33′ to the upper stepping surface 31, and a certain cavity is thus formed which a flexible shoe sole can enter into and “become caught” on the engagement edges 27.

As already mentioned previously, the ends 23, 23′ of the cross-bars 20 are inserted into the slots 11 of the peripheral rails 10, 10′. These peripheral rails 10, 10′ are in turn bent in the form of partially closed hollow bodies in such a way that a lower bearing surface 12 is formed, by means of which the peripheral rails 10, 10′ bear on the structure (on a frame thereon). Inner surfaces 13 are formed opposite these bearing surfaces 12 on the inside of the peripheral rails 10, 10′ on which, in turn, lower edges 26 of the cross-bars 20 or their ends 23, 23′ bear in the mounted state. This ensures maximum stability.

The peripheral rails 10, 10′ have access openings 16, 16′ on the outside, by means of which the ends 23, 23′ of the cross-bars 20 can be bent using a tool in such a way that the cross-bars 20 are fixed in the peripheral rails 10, 10′. It is also helpful that the cross-bars 20 have stop sections 25, by means of which the cross-bars 10, 10′ stand up on the edges of the slots 11, so that when the ends 23, 23′ are bent a shake-free accommodation of the cross-bars 20 in the peripheral rails 10, 10′ is ensured.

In addition, the peripheral rails 10, 10′ have openings 14 (see FIG. 7), into which brackets 40 with upper spring sections 41 can be inserted, each of which has an engagement projection 43. The engagement projection 43 is inserted into corresponding recesses of the peripheral rails 10, 10′, so that the brackets 40 can be inserted into the peripheral rails 10, 10′ or their opening 14, and levered in until they snap into place there.

In the mounted position a clamping section 42 then projects downwards from the peripheral rail 10, 10′, which clamping section is formed such that it becomes caught either on a wall of the structure or in an opening provided therein and fixes the grating to the structure.

The peripheral rails 10, 10′ additionally have rod elements 15, see FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, which engage in corresponding recesses of the structure so that a longitudinal displacement of the grating on the structure can be reliably prevented.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

10, 10′ Peripheral rail

11 Slot

12 Bearing surface

13 Inner surface

14 Opening

15 Stop element 16, 16′ Access opening

20 Cross-bar

21 Stepping section

22 Upper edge

23, 23′ End

24 Slot

25 Stop section

26 Lower edge

27 Engagement edge

30 Longitudinal bar

31 Upper stepping surface

32, 32′ Shank

33, 33′ Transition area

40 Bracket

41 Spring section

42 Clamping section

43 Engagement projection 

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A grating for covering shafts, channels or similar structures, comprising peripheral rails (10, 10′) cross-bars (20) made of sheet metal sections connected to the peripheral rails (10, 10′), longitudinal bars (30) connected to the cross-bars (20), characterized in that the longitudinal bars (30) are fixed to the cross-bars (20) in such a way that upper stepping surfaces (31) of the longitudinal bars (30) extend lower than or flush with at least stepping sections of upper edges (22) of the cross-bars (20).
 15. The grating according to claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal bars (30) have essentially U-shaped cross-sections with the upper stepping surfaces (31) and with shanks (32, 32′) fixed in the cross-bars (20), with the cross-bars preferably projecting upwards over the stepping surfaces (31).
 16. The grating according to claim 3, characterized in that the peripheral rails (10, 10′) have slots (11), into which ends (23, 23′) of the cross-bars (20) are inserted.
 17. The grating according to claim 3, characterized in that the peripheral rails (10, 10′) are formed as sheet metal hollow profiles.
 18. The grating according to claim 4, characterized in that the ends (23, 23′) of the cross-bars (20) are bent inside the peripheral rails (10, 10′) in such a way that the cross-bars (20) are fixed to the peripheral rails (10, 10′).
 19. The grating according to claim 3, characterized in that the cross bars (20) have stop sections (25) situated before the ends (23, 23′) so that the ends (23, 23′) can be inserted into the peripheral rails (10, 10′) up to a defined insertion depth.
 20. The grating according to claim 2, characterized in that the cross bars (20) have slots (24) for receiving the shanks (32, 32′) of the longitudinal bars (30) and the shanks (32, 32′) are pressed into these slots (24).
 21. The grating according to claim 4, characterized in that the peripheral rails (10, 10′) have bearing surfaces (12) for bearing on corresponding sections of the structures, and lower edges (26) of the ends (23, 23′) of the cross-bars (20) bear on inner surfaces (13) of the bearing surfaces (12).
 22. The grating according to one claim 2, characterized in that the stepping sections (21) of the cross-bars (20) have sharp-edged engagement edges (27) opposite rounded transition areas (33, 33′) between the shanks (32, 32′) and the stepping surfaces (31) of the longitudinal bars (30).
 23. The grating according to claim 1, characterized by brackets (40) which are connected to the peripheral rails (10, 10′) in order to fix the grating in the structure.
 24. The grating according to claim 10, characterized in that the brackets (40) have upper spring sections (41), by means of which they can be inserted under tension into openings (14) of the peripheral rails (10, 10′) and can be fixed in the peripheral rails (10, 10′) preferably in a form fitting manner.
 25. The grating according to claim 1, characterized in that the peripheral rails (10, 10′) have rod elements (15) projecting downwards, which are formed for insertion into corresponding recesses in the structure and for prevention of a longitudinal displacement of the grating relative to the structure.
 26. The grating according to claim 1, characterized in that the peripheral rails (10, 10′) have access openings (16, 16′) on the outside such that ends (23, 23′) of the cross-bars (20) can be accessed from the outside by tools for connection of the cross-bars (20) to the peripheral rails (10, 10′). 